CONSERVER(8L)

NAME
conserver - console server daemon

SYNOPSIS
conserver [-dnsv] [-a type] [-C config] [lines]
conserver -h
conserver -V

DESCRIPTION
Conserver is the daemon for the console(1L) program. It provides remote access to the server consoles, and logs all console data. Slave hosts which have no current connection might produce important error messages, these unloved errors are each labeled with a machine name on stdout.

When started, it forks a child for each group in /usr/local/etc/conserver.cf, and assigns each process a port number to listen on. The console client program knows how to request port numbers and forwards to find the various slave lines.

Conserver completely controls any connection to a controlled host. The server handle all escape sequenes, except the suspend sequence which is sent as an out-of-band command to the client.

The conserver parent process automatically respawns any child process that dies. If the parent process receives a SIGTERM, it will propogate the signal to its children.

OPTIONS

-atype
    The default client access permission is set to type. Valid type selections are trusted, allowed, and deny (only the first letter is actually examined). Any use of trusted shows a lack of "reasonable care".

-Cconfig
    With this option the invoker may specify an alternate confguration. The default config is /usr/local/etc/conserver.cf.

-d  Variaous debug messages may (or may not) be enabled. Depends on compile time switches and the phase of the moon.

-h  Output a brief help message.

-n  The conserver will not output unloved console output to stdout.

-s  Enables soft carrier on all ports. Most useful for installation debugging.

-v  Echo the configuration as it is being read (be verbose). Also display usage (login/logout) messages to stdout.

-V  Output the version of the console server (only) and exit.

EXAMPLES
conserver: expert: login ksb
tyro: panic: my brain hurts
conserver: ksb shifts from expert to tyro
conserver: tyro: logout ksb
...

FILES
/usr/local/etc/conserver.cf | description of console terminal lines
/var/log/consoles/host | log files for host's console
/dev/tty?? | terminal line device files
stdout | summary of unloved console errors

AUTHORS
Kevin S Braunsdorf, Purdue University Computing Center
Thomas A. Fine, Ohio State Computer Science

SEE ALSO
console(1L), conserver.cf(5L), autologin(8L)